Vaas met schubben en lobben 1657

Editor: Here we have Françoise Bouzonnet's "Vase with Scales and Lobes" from 1657, an engraving on metal. It looks so precise. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, on the surface, this appears to be a straightforward representation of an object. But let’s consider the function of ornament during the Baroque period. What kind of statement was the owner making through its display? Remember, this was a period deeply engaged with social hierarchies and status. Editor: I guess the vase becomes more than just a vase. Curator: Exactly! It's a declaration. Bouzonnet's engraving, by documenting such objects, participates in the circulation and perhaps even idealization of these markers of wealth. Who had access to such prints? Who could afford the actual vase? What kind of person was it meant for? Editor: So the engraving almost democratizes access, even if it's just visually. Curator: Precisely! And we need to be aware of this inherent contradiction. What message are we conveying when we are displaying it today? Should it be considered an art piece that embodies history, class and capitalism of its time? Editor: It's really amazing to think about all of that – the context, the statement, and what it all means today. I hadn't thought of it that way. Curator: Seeing art as entangled with social dynamics makes art history so much richer, doesn’t it? There's always something more to uncover.